LHM Youth Lifestyle Information – Driving

Finding ways to balance a social life with energy management when you have half a working heart can feel crucial and there are many ways to achieve this. Driving can be one of these ways.
Living life as a teenager with half a working heart can come with challenges. It is understandable that creating a day-to-day life with as much independence as possible is something a lot of our youth members will want to achieve.
What better way of achieving that independence than learning to drive. Getting your driving license and a car will not only offer a sense of freedom and empowering independence but a sense of ease in day-to-day life.
Having a car supports so many young people with half a working heart, so that you can get to hospital appointments independently, join in with social events and control when you want to leave due to your energy levels.
We know so many of our youth members struggle to participate in social events, especially if just getting to them takes up their spoons of energy. So many of our young adult members have told us that once they learn to drive, they see their social life improve.


Things to think about
There are some things to bear in mind when learning to and passing your driving test when you have half a working heart.
- If you have proof of a disability (a great form of this is DLA/PIP or a letter from your cardiac team/GP) you are able to learn to drive and drive from the age of 16. This applies for all of the UK and Northern Ireland. This is one year earlier than young people that do not have a disability are allowed to drive.
- If you are awarded high or enhanced rate mobility it is possible for you to apply for a Motability car, scooter or electric wheelchair. This can really help financially. Not everyone will be awarded this, but it is definitely worth applying to see. There are many schemes that can help you apply.
For more info on applying for PIP with half a working heart click the link below.
- If you have half a working heart and pass your driving test there are a couple of additional things you need to think about. Firstly, you must let the DVLA know about your heart condition. If you do not you may be fined up to £1000. This usually comes in the form of medical questionnaire that needs to be filled out. We have popped the link below to the web page that can give you more information.
https://www.gov.uk/congenital-heart-disease-and-driving
- The DVLA are not the only organisation you need to inform about your heart condition. You must let your car insurance company know of your heart condition too. If you do not your policy may not be valid.


There are some things to bear in mind when learning to and passing your driving test when you have half a working heart.
- If you have proof of a disability (a great form of this is DLA/PIP or a letter from your cardiac team/GP) you are able to learn to drive and drive from the age of 16. This applies for all of the UK and Northern Ireland. This is one year earlier than young people that do not have a disability are allowed to drive.
- If you are awarded high or enhanced rate mobility it is possible for you to apply for a Motability car, scooter or electric wheelchair. This can really help financially. Not everyone will be awarded this, but it is definitely worth applying to see. There are many schemes that can help you apply.
For more info on applying for PIP with half a working heart click the link below.
- Many young people with half a working heart are awarded a ‘Blue badge’ – this means you are able to park in disability friendly parking spaces as well as offered on street parking concessions. These badges are usually awarded to young people who are awarded high/enhanced rate mobility with their PIP/DLA as well as young people with a permanent disability that means they have difficulty walking and have a doctor willing to confirm this. Not everyone is awarded a blue badge, but it is worth applying. Follow the link below to see the application process.
https://www.nidirect.gov.uk/articles/apply-or-renew-blue-badge
We hope this either gets you geared up and ready to start learning to drive armed with the knowledge that can make it easier for you, or if you are already a driver brings certain things to your attention.
